Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P438.1 returned 59 results.
KNOWLEDGE BUMP
AS THE BARBER WAS CUTTING MY HAIR HE NOTICED THAT I HAVE
A NATURAL BUMP ON THE LOWER BACK PART OF MY SKULL.
WHEN HE NOTICED THIS HE COMMENTED THAT I HAVE A "KNOWLEDGE BUMP".
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; BARBER SHOP ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face |
Date learned: 09-18-1969
HUMAN DEFORMATION
MAYANS PUT BOARDS ON THEIR BABIES' HEADS SO THAT THE HEAD
WOULD COME TO A POINT. THIS WAS DONE TO MAKE THE
CHILDREN MORE BEAUTIFUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Head BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face |
Date learned: 02-07-1970
GOOD LUCK FOR A SAILOR
SOME BABIES ARE BORN WITH A THIN VEIL OF SKIN OVER THEIR FACES.
SAILORS WILL PAY A GREAT PRICE FOR THIS SKIN BECAUSE
IT WILL PREVENT SHIPWRECK WHILE ON A JOURNEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; EAST QUAD ; DORMS
Keyword(s): CAUL
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
ONE'S CHARACTER SHOWS IN HIS FACE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face |
Date learned: 04-01-1970
PREDICTION DIVINATION BELIEF
IF YOU TOUCH THE SOFT SPOT ON A BABY'S HEAD, THE ROOF OF HIS MOUTH
WILL CAVE IN
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER SISTER, GRACIA ESQUIVEL WHO IS A
HOUSEWIFE OF 23.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-07-1980
TO GET RID OF THE HICCUPS, COUNT TO TEN, HOLD YOUR BREATH AND THINK
OF TEN BALD MEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Number P686.3.10 BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Cure for a headache
If you have a headache, put cold water on your wrists and it
should disappear.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): HIDDEN CONNECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001970S
It was believed that when an infant had a head cold, you would
mix vaseline and nutmeg together and place it in the mole {hole?}
of the infant's head, because it was soft and the head had not
closed completely. So the home remedy could work better and get
the baby well faster.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVER ROUGE
James Callow Keyword(s): fallen fontanel
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
If you make a strange face and someone hits you on the back,
your face will stay in that position forever.
Submitter comment: This saying is popular among grade school age children.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE FARMS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Measure of time BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
This is a saying I learned from my mother when I was younger:
"If you keep making that expression your face will freeze like
that." What she meant by this was that if I continually made a
certain expression my face would someday freeze with that
expression on it. She said this to me through my childhood and
still says it to me today. I think it was her way to keep me
from making faces. Unfortunately, it has not worked!
James Callow comment: Cf. Hand, North Carolina no. 172.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
When I was younger my mother always used to tell me to never
go outside with a wet head in the winter because my head would
freeze and I would catch a cold.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): TEMPERATURE
Date learned: 00-00-1977
Remedy for cold or flu
Place camphorated oil in the fontella (soft spot on baby's
head) and on the bottom of the feet of the baby to get rid of any
fever in the body.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Fontanel
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Plant |
ERASER TAG
PLAYED IN THE CLASSROOM. ONE PERSON IS IT. HE HAS
AN ERASER PLACED ON HIS HEAD. THE OBJECT IS TO TAG
SOMEONE WITHOUT LETTING THE ERASER FALL OFF.
GAME GOES UNTIL SOMEONE IS TAGGED OR IT GIVES UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
A CHILD BORN WITH A "CZEPEK" (FILM ON INFANT'S HEAD)
IS ALWAYS LUCKY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRTH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Good luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 02-07-1971
IF A LEAF FALLS ON YOUR HEAD, IT'S BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT GAVE NO REASON WHY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
DON'T LOOK THROUGH A BROKEN MIRROR OR YOUR FACE WILL
WRINKLE EARLY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 04-08-1967
IF YOU HAVE PIERCED EARS AND WEAR EARRINGS WITH A
GOLD BASE, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE HEADACHES.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED OF THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE ILE
Date learned: 10-28-1970
MAKING OF A FUNNY OR UGLY FACE WHILE OUTDOORS IN COLD
WEATHER, MAY CAUSE YOUR FACE TO FREEZE IN THAT
POSITION.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT USED THIS TO SCARE HER CHILDREN.
Data entry tech comment:
IF WE POUTED OR MADE A FACE AT SOMEONE, OUR MOTHER USED
TO SAY THIS ALSO, REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER.--PAC
I BELIEVE, IT WAS TO DISCOURAGE THE PRACTICE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LE ROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
BROKEN BREAD
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE IN RURAL BULGARIA, THE OLDEST PERSON
IN THE HOUSEHOLD BREAKS A FRESH LOAF OF BREAD OVER
HIS HEAD. IF WHEN THE LOAF BREAKS, THE LARGEST
CHUNK REMAINS IN THE RIGHT HAND, THERE WILL BE GOOD
HARVEST FORTHCOMING. THERE WILL NOT BE A GOOD HARVEST
IF THE LARGEST PIECE OF BREAD BREAKS INTO HIS LEFT
HAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BULGARIA
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 03-21-1970
IF YOU STAND IN FRONT OF A MIRROR AT 12 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT
WITH IT COMPLETELY DARK AND REPEAT TWELVE TIMES, "I DON'T
BELIEVE IN THE BELL WITCH," SHE WILL SCRATCH YOU ON THE
FACE.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; HOPKINSVILLE
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face |
Date learned: 07-27-1968